Functionality & Features

Basic keyboard functionality is one thing, but when you're paying three times more than most premium keyboards, it had better deliver the bacon.

First things first, let's look at the hardware aspects of this keyboard before moving to the more complex stuff. With that in mind, let's take a look at the buttons and functions available on this baby.

Gaming & Windows Mode Switch

IMHO, this is a feature that should have been part of gaming keyboards a long time ago. What does this dinky little switch do?

Well, it's too simple really, but very useful nonetheless. It allows you to simply switch between gaming and Windows modes.

What the difference between those two modes? Nothing much really. It's just that when you switch to the Gaming mode, the keyboard disables the two most annoying keys on the planet - the Scroll key and the Windows key.

Why am I so enthusiastic about this feature? Well, if you count the times I lost a battle, game, shoot-out, campaign or whatever due to my fat fingers accidentally pushing one of these damned buttons, you'd be as enthusiastic too! Finally. It's a simple innovation, but one I really like.

Macro Keys

Ahh.. the macro keys. A gaming keyboard is not a gaming keyboard without them. These keys allow you execute a combination of key presses with the single touch of a button.

There are 18 macro keys in all, enough for most gamers. However, with so many games out there, Logitech included a memory bank function that allows a theoretical total of 54 different macros using three different M keys (M1, M2, M3).

The Logitech G15 gives you far more macro keys per profile than other gaming keyboards. All you need to do is push the M button you want, and you're good to go with a different set of macro keys. Thanks to the three memory bank keys, you don't need to go through the cumbersome process of loading another profile through a software utility.

The Logitech G15 also comes with a MR or Memory Recall function that allows you record macros on the fly, without fiddling with the software. Best of all, it works in tandem with the LCD screen to provide simple instructions on how you can record a macro.

The MR button even blinks after you key in a macro to remind you to end the macro. Their attention to detail is apparent, and much appreciated. In addition, the selected memory bank lights up with an orange glow, as you can see in the picture above. So, there is no need to guess what M bank you're on. Yay!

It's a personal preference but IMHO, the G15's macro key layout isn't as annoying as Razer's method of placing 5 keys on each side of the keyboard. It depends on what you prefer, but I personally prefer having all the macro keys in one area.